Magistrate Viva slaps man to 14 years IHL for removing rail sleepers
A 32 year old man has started his 14 year jail term after the Blantyre magistrates court threw him in the cooler for removing rail sleepers.
The court heard that Macdonald Chimkonda removed the sleepers in Blantyre.
Prosecutors asked for a longer sentence, saying the tendency of people removing sleepers from rails is rampant.
Chief resident magistrate Viva Nyimba agreed with the prosecutors, saying this endangered lives of people and property as the tendency causes derailment.
Nyimba cited an example of a recent train derailment where over 6000 litres of fuel was lost. Cear which runs trains in the country welcomed the ruling.
Chimkonda hails from Ntonya village in the area of chief Mlumbe in Zomba.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :